Western Australia will hit the big screen this winter with the release of Son of A Gun on 30th January, 2015. With its headline star, Ewan McGregor, claiming that some of the filming locations are 'spectacularly beautiful' and 'home to the most amazing sunset' of his life, there's no doubt that despite the drama, the backdrops from this action thriller will have audiences falling in love with the sunny state.

Son of a Gun follows 19 year old JR (Brenton Thwaites) who is locked up for a minor crime and finds himself under the watchful eye of Australia's most notorious criminal, Brendan Lynch (Ewan McGregor). But protection comes at a price; Lynch and his crew have plans for their young protégée. Upon release JR must help secure Lynch's freedom, staging a daring prison break and joining his crew as they plan a gold heist that promises to deliver millions.

For those looking to see the locations that writer / director Julius Avery specifically chose because of their mythic quality; Rottnest Island, Fremantle, and Kalgoorlie have plenty to offer travellers, away from the action-packed scenes of Son of A Gun.

Rottnest Island

Blue skies, turquoise waters and white sand - wondering where the stunning island that JR and Tasha (Alicia Vikander) escaped to at the end of the film was? It was Rottnest Island, a car-free island paradise and one of Western Australia's most iconic locations; also a firm favourite of Ewan McGregor:

[Rottnest] “is spectacularly beautiful. I saw the most amazing sunset of my life there. I went for a run after work one day and I just had to stop and just take it all in. And there are those little animals that live on Rottnest, the quokkas… funny little things!”

Home to quokkas, some of the best beaches in the world, bike and walk trails, 135 species of vibrant tropical fish and over 13 shipwrecks, the island is just 19km from Perth but feels a world away. The island can be explored by bike from £16 ($30) with Pedal and Flipper, or by Segway from £48 per adult ($89) and £43 ($79) per child (www.segwaytourswa.com.au). Ferries from Perth cost from £22 ($40) each way (www.rottnestexpress.com.au).

Fremantle

Envious of the stunning beach views from the Brendan and JRs safe house? Then you'll need to take a trip to Fremantle.  This bustling dynamic port city has long been renowned for its eclectic mix of arty types, and is home to quirky shops, historic buildings, a colourful fishing boat harbour, microbreweries, markets and vibrant restaurants. Head to South Fremantle for calm, beautiful beaches or North Fremantle for pleasant walks and parks. 

Interactive walking tours, hosted by locals, are available in Fremantle. Visitors can learn about the cities exciting convict and colonial history as they explore the highlights on offer. Tours cost from £11 ($20) per person (https://www.twofeet.com.au)

For those looking to get under the skin of the convict history, try a night in the World Heritage listed Fremantle Prison, with the opening of the new Fremantle Prison YHA this spring.

Kalgoorlie

Feeling the buzz of the gold rush? You too can visit the mines of Kalgoorlie as showcased in Son of a Gun. In fact, you can explore one of the world's largest open cut mines.

Kalgoorlie, the biggest city in the Australian outback, is a vibrant mix of gold rush history, grand colonial buildings and immense mining operations. The legacy of the gold rush prospectors of the 1800s lives on in magnificent architecture and one of the world's largest open cut mines - the Superpit. 3.5 kilometres long and 1.5 kilometres, the super-pit produces 850,000 ounces of gold each year.

A half day Superpit tour, allowing visitors to view the mining operations from the safety of a mine-spec coaster bus costs from £38 per adult ($70) and £24 ($45) per child (www.kalgoorlietours.com.au). Alternatively, visitors can experience 100 years' of gold rush history in the Western Australian Museum (Kalgoorlie-Boulder) which is free to visit.

For further information on Western Australia, visit www.westernaustralia.com

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Notes to editors

Son of a Gun is released in cinemas nationwide on 30th January 2015.

Follow @SonofaGunUK and go to Facebook.com/sonofagunmovie for news and exclusive content

For media or image requests, please contact:

Louise Adlam, PR and Promotions Manager for Tourism Western Australia: ladlam@twa.australia.com / 0207 438 4606